A Nashville-based burger joint is opening its first Lowcountry location later this year.
Celebrity chef Sean Brock announced on Friday, September 27 that he’s bringing Joyland to Charleston, according to Eater Carolinas. Brock left Charleston’s Neighborhood Dining Group six years ago to focus on his Nashville ventures.
An imaginative fast-casual concept, Joyland will take over the former site of Hero Doughnuts at 145 Calhoun St. The eatery draws inspiration from the “fast-food restaurants of yesteryear,” combining comfort and quick service.
While the menu may seem simple—biscuits, burgers, fried chicken, shakes—it’s been carefully crafted using advanced techniques and premium ingredients to recreate the charm of fast food’s golden era.
Joyland offers twists on classic American favorites, with inventive options like the Crustburger, a flat, crispy burger with American cheese on a potato bun, and Joysticks, which blend Japanese kushikatsu with Mississippi-style fried chicken-on-a-stick. The menu also features buttermilk biscuits, made-to-order shakes, rotating seasonal hand pies, and gluten-free and vegan options.
In addition to its Nashville flagship, Joyland just opened a new site in Birmingham, Alabama, earlier this week. The restaurant is a collaboration between Brock, Pihakis Restaurant Group CEO Nick Pihakis, and Southall Farm & Inn founder Paul Mishkin. Based on Charleston’s business filings, Pihakis is partnering with Brock on this upcoming location as well.
Along with Joyland, Brock operates two other Nashville restaurants: Appalachian-inspired Audrey and June, a “tasting menu only” eatery.
Joyland is expected to open in Charleston by the end of 2024.
